Means for making toilet-paper rolls



P. D. PARSONS. MEANS FOR MAKING TOILET PAPER ROLLS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1919.

Patented May 31, 1921.

I n INVENTOR 'ished rolls.

PHILIP D. PABSGNS, OF PI-IILADELPHLA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSEG'NOB TO SCOTT RAPEE COMPANY, fr CGRPQEATIQN 0E PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR MAKING: TOILET-PA'PEB ROLLS.

Application filed December 1, 1919.

T 0 all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP D. PARSONS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Means for Making Toilet- Paper Rolls, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore it has been the practice, in making up rolls of toilet paper for the market, to subject a traveling web of paper to means for transversely perforating the same at uniform intervals apart and then slitting the perforated web int a series of parallel strips,each of which is wound upon a separate tubular core, and thereafter a suitable wrapper, containing the label, has been applied by hand.

The object of my present invention is to eliminate, as far as possible, the manual operations in preparing the rolls of toilet paper in their condition for placing upon the market, and with this object in view, I first prepare a roll of paper having the transverse perforations spaced apart along the length of the web corresponding to the successive sheets and said roll having a width corresponding to the sum of a plurality of fin- The roll of perforated paper thus provided is then transferred to a suitable machine wherein it is caused to be brought into relation with a plurality of cutters for sub-dividing it into a plurality of shorter widths, whereby the original roll may be sub-divided into 12 or more rolls, as desired. I also provide means for automatically applying awrapper to the roll of paper before it is sub-divided, so that when the sub-division takes place, each roll will be provided with its own sealing wrapper and ready for the market.

In the preferred manner of applying the wrappers containing the printed label, I provide means for guiding a web of paper. upon which the labels are printed, transversely across the path of the perforated roll of paper during its movement in being brought into contact with the dividing cutters, and said means applies paste to the wrapper web s that the same may be securely attached in position, when rolled upon Specification of Letters Patent.

.i atented llLTay 31, 1921.

Serial No. 341,823.

the roll of perforated paper; and in addition to the means for feeding the label wrapper into position for being taken up by the roll of perforated paper, I provide means for severing the web, so that its total length 13 equal to the total width of the roll of perforated paper so that it may be readily applied to the roll of paper. completely covering the same and when subsequently divided with the roll of paper, the plurality of individual smaller rolls will each have a wrapper fully inolosing the peripheral surface thereof and each of said wrappers will have thereon the label.

By the employment of apparatus of the above nature it is possible to dispense, in a very large measure, with the manual labor which has heretofore been necessary, and thereby materially eheapen the cost of manufacturing of the complete rolls ready for the market.

My invention also consists of improvements hereinafter described whereby the above objects and results are attained, said improvements comprising certain organization and combination of parts which are fully described hereinafter and more particularly defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 0crc of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a finished roll.

2 is the main frame and is provided with the table portion 3 and with racks 4 arranged longitudinally/of the table and at each side thereof. Near the discharge end of the table, I provide a transverse shaft 5 carrying a plurality of revolving circular cutter blades 6 spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the finished paper rolls. This shaft 5 and its plurality of cutters may be rotated by an electric motor 7 or other suitable power, to give a very rapid revolution to the cutters. These cutters may be formed of very thin steel and with very sharp peripheral edges, but it is also manifest that, if desired, these peripheral edges may be otherwise formed such as slightly roughened edges to constitute delicate saws. The shaft 5 is so supported in the main frame that the blades of the cutters 6 may extend upwardly through the table a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the roll of perforated paper which is to be sub-divided.

8 is a suitable frame or carriage and ex tends entirely across the table and is provided with supporting wheels and pinions 9 to properly guide the carriage along the table and maintain an equal speed of movement at each end of the carriage. This carriage may be moved by hand or, if desired,

by any suitable reciprocating means driven by power, as I do not restrict myself in this respect. "The carriage is also provided with slots 10 in its end plates for receiving a suitable mandrel 11 which is extended through the wide tubularroll of paper 12. In practice, the tubular roll 12 is wrapped upon a paste-board tube 13 which in turn is supported by the transverse rod 11 extend ing through the paste-b0ard tube and, b T engagement with the vertical slots 10, causes the roll of paper to be moved along over the table 3 by the movement of the carriage thereon. In this manner, the roll of paper is fed over the table 3 to the cutters 6 and is by them subdivided into a plurality of rolls of shorter width, the number of which is 13, though I do not restrict myself in this respect, as the number is determined by the width of the perforated paper roll and also bynthe width to be given to the finished r0 s.

The table 3 is provided with means for receiving and supporting a transverse web of label containing wrapping paper which is automatically fed across the table in the path of the paper roll, when advancing upon the cutters, so that it is rolled over the wrapping paper which is securely gummed in position and which thereafter, together with the roll, passes to the dividing cutters 6, whereby the rolls are each inclosed in the individual wrapper containing the printed matter and including the trade-mark. The

-means for feeding the wrapper web into position may be of any suitable character and I have indicated a simple form of means for this purpose. 14 represents a roll of wrapping paper having printed thereon the label desiredand these labels are printed transversely across the width of the label web and spaced. so as to come in alinement with the spaces between the dividing cutters 6, whereby, when the wrapped roll of toilet paper is severed into the individual rolls by the said 'cutters'6, each of the individual rolls will have its wrapper 15 containing the printed matter desired. The web 16 of the wrapping paper may be fed transversely across the table by any suitable means, as for example,

a pair of feed rolls 17 and the edges of the wrapping web may have paste applied thereto by means of paste applying rolls 18 of any suitable construction. When the paper is fed across the table, as indicated in Fig. 2, the printed matter on the wrapping web will be on the underside. When the wrapper web is fed forward,- the carriage 8 is advanced over the said web and in this manner causes the paper roll 12 to roll over the wrapping web; but before this operation actually takes place, the cutter 19 upon the side of the carriage 8, next to the feed rolls 17, severs the wrapping web on a line close to'the edge of the table through which the wrapping .web is fed, and thereupon the roll of paper 12 in rOlliIlg over the wrapping web will attach itself thereto and cause the web to completely inclose the roll of paper. l i henthis is done, the carriage is still further advancedover and beyond the dividing cutters 6 and thereupon the wrapped wide roll of paperwill be divided into a plurality of rolls of narrower widths, each of which is completely enveloped on its peripheral surface with a suitable wrapper containing the necessary printed matter, as indicated in Fig. 4.

' Any suitable means 20 may be employed for putting the feed rolls 17 into and out of action, so as to intermittently feed the paper transversely over the table. The operation of thesefced rolls may be accomplished by hand manipulation, if so desired, but I do not limit myself to any particular manner or means for operating these feed rolls or, in fact, to the manner in which the web of wrapping paper is moved across the table transversely to the travel of the roll to be wrapped," as my invention comprehends broadly the placing upon the table in the path of the roll of toilet paper, the necessary wrapper with paste applied, so that it attaches itself to the roll before being severed by the cutters 6.

In the particular means shown for insuring the feeding of the wrapper across the table, themechanism 20 may be of any suitable character which, when driven by the chain 21. willtend to operate the rolls 17 for a given number of revolutions, when thrown intooperation by the trip lever 22.'

This trip lever may be actuated by the link and pivoted lever 23 which maybe oscillatcd by pin 24 on the carriage 8; the operation being such. that when the carriage is moved back to its initial position substantially as shown. the pin 24: operates the lever 23 and thereafter the feeding mechanism moves the wrapper across the table to the 12, would accomplish the same purpose, as

the paper roll would be advanced over the cutters and in rotating would insure the severance being completed all the way around and thus cause the severance of the roll without cutting through the mandrel 11, in which case the mandrel may be of metal.

I have not described the means for providing the long roll 12 with the transverse perforations arranged at intervals along its length, as a machine for accomplishing this purpose is well known, and comprises substantially a support for a roll of paper, feeding rolls for stretching the paper when being perforated, and perforating devices which perforate the stretched paper web at stated intervals, as it is being fed through the machine. The perforated web is then rolled up to constitute the roll 12 which is employed in the machine herein described.

Considering the results successively secured by my improved apparatus, they comprise, first, rolling a web of perforated toilet paper into a solid roll of great width, then applying to said roll a wrapper of the same width and having thereon at intervals apart a plurality of printed matter to constitute the label, and thereafter subdividing the wide roll with the wrapper applied,

transversely to its length, so as to form a plurality of rolls of lesser width, each having thereon an inclosing wrapper containing the label matter.

I have described my improved means in that particularity which I deem to be the best exposition of my invention, and that which I prefer in commercial practice, but I do not restrict or confine myself to the minor or secondary details, as such variations may be resorted to as matters of mechanical skill and without a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a plurality of cutters placed at intervals apart, a guide table for guiding a roll of paper across the cutters so that it may be sub-divided, a movable carriage arranged to travel lengthwise of the table and past the plurality of cutters and having means for moving the paper roll over the table and in positive contact with the cutters, and means for delivering to the table across the path of the carriage a paper wrapper sheet having portions provided with paste and over which the roll of toilet paper is fed and the wrapper applied before it reaches the cutters.

2. The invention according to claim 1, when further characterized by providing means for feeding a web of wrapping paper transversely across the guide table, and suitable severing devices put into operation y the @a se fie? se e h p r web to provide a free sheet which may be applied to the roll of toilet paper on its way to the cutters.

3. The invention according to claim 1, further characterized by providing means for feeding a web of wrapper paper transversely across the guide table, means for applying paste to the edges of said wrapper web when being fed across the table, and means for severing the web of wrapper paper adjacent to one side of the table to provide a free wrapper sheet to be wrapped about the paper roll on its way to the cutters.

4. In a machine of the character stated, a plurality of cutters arranged at a distance apart, combined with means for feeding a wide roll of toilet paper into contact with the said cutters, whereby it may be subdivided into a plurality of rolls of lesser width, and means for applying a pasted wrapper to the outer surface of the paper roll arranged in relation to the cutters, whereby the roll is first brought into contact with the pasted wrapper so that the same is applied to the circumferential surface of the paper roll and said roll with the wrapper applied thereafter sub-divided by being brought into contact with the cutters.

5. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a plurality of cutters rotating in parallel planes at intervals apart, with means for feeding a wide roll of paper against the said cutters, whereby it is subdivided into a plurality of rolls of shorter length, and means arranged in the path of the travel of the roll of paper under the influence of the feeding means for supplying a wrapper to the long roll of paper prior to the action thereon of the cutters.

6. In a machine of the character stated; the combination of a plurality of revolving cutters arranged in parallel planes at intervals apart, guiding means for guiding a long roll of paper toward the revolving cutters, means for positively feeding the roll of paper over the guiding means and in forcible contact with the cutters, mechanical devices arranged adjacent to the guiding means for feeding a label wrapper to the roll of paper before it reaches the cutters, whereby it envelope the paper roll from one end to the other before the roll is severed into shorter rolls by the cutters and whereby the label wrapper is also simultaneously divided so that each shorter roll is provided with the inclosing wrapper.

7. In a machine of the character stated, a support for a long roll of paper, mechanical devices for applying a label sheet about the roll of paper, a plurality of rotating cutters secured to a common shaft, said cutters arranged in parallel planes at a distance apart; and means for causing a relative movement between the means for supporting the roll of paper and the cutters, whereby the label wrapped roll of paper is sev- V ered into a plurality of rolls of shorter length each inclosed in its own wrapper.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the means for applying the wrapper is arranged to feed a gummed sheet to the roll of paper equal to its total length and means also provided for rotating the roll in contact with the wrapper to insure 10 the latter being Wrapped about the roll and held thereon by the paste prior to being severed by the cutters. 4

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

' PHILIP D. PARSONS. 

